The Peculiar Oddity of Curiosity

Chapter 1 - Cruel beginnings

Ebony sat patiently in her bed, waiting for her grandmother to kiss her goodnight. It was to be the last day in her home, tomorrow she was to move. Being only nine years old she was too young to fully understand the reason for the rushed leave but, she was intelligent enough to know that the reason they were moving was not a good one. She heard slow shuffling up the stairs and muttered curses of back pains and instantly knew her grandmother was arriving.

“Granny” she called out.

“Hold your horses, Bonny” Her grandmother replied in her aged but knowing voice.

After a few moments had passed, her grandmother had made it up the stairs and was sitting on the edge of Ebony’s bed. Her intense grey eyes were fixed on Ebony's.

"What's wrong" she asked.

"Nothing" Ebony unconvincingly replied. Her eyes betrayed her, her Grandmother knew her too well.

"It’s about the move, isn’t it?" Her Grandomother pressed. 

"I don't want to move granny, I want to stay in Chesham. I love it here" Ebony pleaded. She had spend her whole life in Chesham and couldn't imagine a life with out it. 

"As do I dear, but I know what is right for you and this is"

Ebony was not convinced. Her mother and grandmother hadn’t given her an explanation for why they were moving. Half muttered replies were all she was offered and she was beginning to feel frustrated. 

"I know what will cheer you up, how about I tell you...the story?" her grandmother suggested.

A smile broke across Ebony's face as she nodded vigorously. Her grandmother hadn't told her the story for a long time and she longed for the feeling of freedom and excitement it brought.

“Well, get comfortable and listen carefully” her grandmother instructed as she dimmed the lights and pulled out her rocking chair. Her eyes became distant as she began to relay the tale.

***

Long ago, in the land of the ancients there waged a war; one so great that the very lives of every inhabitants of the world hung in the balance. This war ravaged minds, tore apart lands and poisoned hearts. The person behind this bloodshed was none other than Septimus, a creature so ruthless it is rumoured he had eaten his own kin. The Kingdom of Arenia was at the heart of this vicious battle and had fared the worst; their defence had been crippled and their people’s loyalty was questionable.

King Laevitar of Arenia was fraught with fear and shame. He knew what it was that Septimus wanted from him; he was simply precluding the inevitable. Only when he had lost his beloved wife, Katrina, did he ask for help by...Unconventional means. He sought out the most powerful sorcerer in the land to help him defeat Septimus. Gwyneth the wielder of dark magic was their only hope.

After a deal had been made, Gwyneth managed to seal Septimus dark soul within a chest. With him gone, his army began to fall and peace was restored once again. The king was entrusted with the chest and was told never open it nor tell anyone but the new king about it, only direct descendants of Laevitar could open the chest to insure it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands. The king soon remarried and had children who ruled diligently after he passed away, all told never to open the chest.

This went on for many generations; the kingdom was fruitful and protected as the box was passes faithfully from one king or queen to another. Until, there came a time where the promise made to Gwyneth had been broken. The current King was dangerously ill and very near death. In a time of desperation he told his wife of the chest and its whereabouts before dying shortly after. Queen Ingrid had learnt of the forbidden box; but not of what was in it. Fraught with curiosity to know of the contents but not being of Laevitarian descent, Ingrid ignored the warnings of her late husband and devised a plan. She plotted to get her daughter Pandora to open the chest.

The young, innocent girl was famed for her curiosity so it was child’s play. Ingrid wove a tale of a charmed chest in which all who are open it are blessed with the gift of knowing, the poor child fell victim to ignorance and was enchanted by this tale. She longed for the box and was told it was hidden in the dark moon forest just outside the borders of the kingdom. Queen Ingrid arranged transport for Pandora to the forest. Together they located the chest and Ingrid ordered Pandora to open it, she was reluctant and refused. With persuasion and lies Pandora was soon convinced the box could offer her gifts and she opened it...

What was unleashed was hell, the epitome of despair and pain. Septimus was freed and poor Pandora took his place. Wasting no time Septimus began his revenge and laid waste to the once blessed Kingdom of Arena and all was lost. Gwyneth, watching the horror unfold, but unable to stop Septimus he felt a degree of blame; he then used up the last of his power to give hope to the world. He poured all he had into a prophecy, that one day a saviour will arrive and put an end to Septimus and his tyrannical rule and free their beloved Pandora. This hero will hold the key to freedom in one hand and the blood of Laevitar in the other.

With the gift of curiosity and a heart of gold they will lead the people of Arena to victory...

...Or to an endless darkness.

***

Ebony’s eyes twinkled as she played the story in her head, imagining herself wrapped in the adventure. Her grandmother had told this story to her over a hundred times yet the feeling it brought never wore off.

“Mother, stop putting all these childish fantasises in to Ebony’s head, she needs to come down from these silly dreams and realize life is not all fun and games” Ebony’s mother had just entered her room and scolded her Grandmother.

“Now dear, you had your time of fantasies and dreams, remember” Grandmother reminded her.

“Yes, well I soon realized the difference between fact and fiction” Mother replied her sharp blue eyes staring at Ebony’s.

“And became a sour lemon, didn’t you” grandma teased.

“Enough, Ebony get to bed” Mother ordered

“Yes mother” Ebony sadly replied.

Ebony’s mother slipped back down the stairs.

“Bonny, don’t mind your mother; she just a little jealous of you and your dreams” her grandmother explained as she reached for the lights.

“Granny”

“Yes dear”

“Do you think that maybe I could be the saviour. That I could defeat Septimus and free Princess Pandora?”

“Why not Bonny...Why not. In fact you’re destined for greatness, I can feel it in my bones” She gave Ebony a kiss and a wink and closed the light.

Ebony soon fell into a deep sleep filled with princesses, kingdoms and mysterious boxes. She felt that that whatever tomorrow may bring she could take it in her stride. She was invincible, a hero. 

It’s a shame no one saw the shadow standing outside her home as she slept.

It’s a pity she didn’t see anything come in, nor did she hear anything creep into her mother’s room. Maybe she could have warned her.

She didn’t hear the snuffled screams coming from her Grandmother...

She couldn’t have smelt the blood and death now surrounding the house...

She didn’t feel one little thing...